My list includes:
Favourable comparison: - relative absence of familialism and clientelism - meritocracy, at least in principle - openness of the society, at least in principle - upward mobility for women - ease in obtaining everyday life necessities
Unfavourable comparison: - the low quality of political discourse - bombastic style, self-righteousness, exceptionalism, rabble rousing instead of rational arguments - plutocracy - the subjugation of public policy to the interests of the wealthy in much greater degree than in any other developed country - land use - low density suburban sprawl, dependence on automobile, wasreful energy consumption, lack of investment in public space - philistinism - anti-intellectualism, arrogance, self-righteousness, in-your-face interaction (large cars, loud music, overstatements) - which are universal. But more accepted here than elsewhere - religiosity - which is very shallow and anti-intellectual but permeates every aspect of public life - what other than Islamic republic countris invoke god in their national emblems or currency?
Wojtek